US Cairo

US Cairo was the first boat sunk by a torpedo during the
Civil War. It was in the iron clad class. It remained where
it was sunk for 100 years before being raised to the surface.
You can view the Iron Clad while you visit the Vicksburg
National Military Park. There is also a museum containing
items found on the Cairo. Great exhibit. Seeing this
was worth the drive to Vicksburg. You can actually walk on
the ship. More photos and information on the travel photo
link.


US Cairo


One of the original guns from the Cairo.


Front of the Cairo


Items found on the Cairo.

Vicksburg National Military Park

We visited Vicksburg National Military Museum and watched
a film about the seige of Vicksburg. Great museum. It has
models of various boats and ships used during the Civil War.
Cost is $5.50 per adult. From there we went to Vicksburg National
Military Park. We arrived in time to see them fire off
one of the Napoleon 12 pound cannon. That set off all the
car alarms. Before we took the 16 mile tour of the park, we
viewed an 18 minute film about the battle and seige of Vicksburg
It is amazing to see the battle field, I know I would not want
to be a Federal soldier charging up the hills into the Confederate
cannons. It was easy to understand why Grant decided upon
a seige to take Vicksburg. One can still see where the
Federals dug their numerous trenches during the night to
get closer to the Confederates. During the tour, you can
see numerous monuments to the regiments that took part
in the seige. Some of the monuments are quite large.


Firing of the cannon.


This is what the battle ground below Fort Garret looks like.
You can see the trenches that the Federals dug in order
to get closer to the fort.


One of the many monuments.

Monument to the Texans who participated in the seige of
Vicksburg.

Natchez Trace

We traveled Natchez Trace Parkway from mile marker
266.0-145.1 We stopped at most of the places and I
took lots of pictures. We really enjoyed looking for the
different fungi along the Old Trace. Be sure to click on
the travel photos.


We enjoy walking the Old Trace whenever possible.





In September of every year, they make Sorghum at French
Camp, mile marker 180.7. This is where they cook it.

Tupelo Automobile Museum

WOW!!!!!! I think this is the best auto museum that we have
visited so far. There are over 100 restored cars here. In
front of each car is a speaker which details the history of that
car. This collection of cars is valued at more than $6 million and
has cars ranging from an 1899 Knox, a Duesenberg and three Hispano
Suizas to a Tucker, a Lincoln owned by Elvis, a never-driven
Dodge viper, a car owned by Libarache (sp?) and the Great
Race Car. I took lots of pictures of cars I had never heard of such
as, a Wasp, Lagonda, Graham, Westcot, and many more.
Cost $10 adult, $8 senior.
Be sure to click on our travel photos for lots more cars.


This is a Tucker. 51 were made none were sold.


This is a 1985 Triton Aero Car. The owner of a Domino's
pizza ordered these for his pizza delivery guys. Only a
few were made. These were not used in delivery of pizzas
due to insurance reasons. Can you picture an 18 year-old
using this to deliver pizzas?


This is a one-of-a-kind 1983 Camarovette. The paint
job alone costs more that a vett


This one is called a Wishbone.

Elvis Presley Birthplace

Elvis was born in this house on Jan. 8, 1935. The house
was built by his father, Vernon. For $7, per adult, you
can tour the inside of the house and also a museum featuring
the years that Elvis lived in Tupelo, Mississippi. There is also
a memorial chapel, gift shop, story wall, fountain of life, replic
of their 1939 plymouth, statue of Elvis at age 13, and a
granite block walk with one block for each year of his life.
Well worth the visit.


Elvis birth place


Elvis and his twin brother, Jessie, were born in the
corner. Jessie was stillborn. He was born at 4:00, Elvis at
4:30.

Walking Tall, Bufor Pusser Home

Buford Pusser was sheriff of McNariy county for 6 years.
They made 3 movies about his stint as Sheriff. The first
movie was "Walking Tall." Cost to tour his home is $5 per
adult. Before the tour, you get to see a video about his life.
Good video. His home was in Adamsville, Tennessee.

Shiloh National Military Park

The Battle of Shiloh took place on Sunday April 6 and Monday
April 7, 1862. The fighting took place in a wilderness of
forest and scattered fields near Shiloh Church, Tennessee.
The battle was considered the first great modern battle.
Shiloh casualty totals staggered public imagination.
Union losses were 1, 754 killed, 8, 408 wounded, 2,885
missing, (mostly captured) for a total of 13, 047 men.
Confederate casualties climbed to 10, 699 total men,
with 1, 728 killed, 8.012 wounded,and 959 missing.
Federals were led by Grant, nearly 40, 000 men,
reinforced by Buell Sunday night to total 54, 500 men.
Confederates were led by Johnson and numbered 44,000
men on Sunday. Johnson was killed and
Beauregard took over. However, Beauregard
was unaware that Buell's army had arrived late Sunday night.
Monday morning found Beauregard's army with only 34, 000 men
facing Grant and Buell with 54,500 men. Beauregard was forced
to retreat to Corinth, Mississippi.


Grant's last line of defense on Sunday, April 6


Pittsburg Landing. General Buell's army of the Ohio
landed here Sunday night to reinforce Grant. This caused
Beauregard to retreat to Corinth, Mississippi.


Hornet's nest. For 7 hours, 3 union divisions occupied
a dense oak thicket. They repulsed several piecemeal
Confederate attacks while Grant prepared a last line of
denfense. The Confederated finally surrouned and
captured this position.


During the battle, soldiers of both sides came here to drink
and wash their wounds. Both men and horses died in the
pond, their blood staining the water a dark red.

More photos of Shiloh can be found on travel photos link.

Graceland

We enjoyed our tour of Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee.
We took the $30 tour which let us see the mansion, car museum,
Elvis after dark, his outfits, audio tour, and his airplanes. I took
lots of pictures, but cannot post them for public view. If you
get a chance, be sure to take the tour. Allow lots of time so
you can read all the stuff.

Davy Crockett, Lawrenceburg, Tennessee

We stopped in Lawrenceburg to view the Davy
Crockett statue and the house he lived in while
in Lawrenceburg. They also advertise a
Davy Crockett museum and Cherokee Cultural
Center. Their is nothing of value to see in the
museum/cultural center. However, we were
able to view a 30 minute video about the
Trail of Tears. That was very interesting.


Statue of Davy Crockett in Lawrenceburg square.



Davy Crockett lived in this cabin from 1817-1822. You can
go inside, but there is nothing inside that belonged to Davy
Crockett.

Natchez Trace Parkway, mile markers 375.8-269.4

So many things to see along the trace. We enjoy stopping at
the various mile markers and taking the walks. We are able to
hear the birds sing and enjoy the beauty that nature
provides.


This is mile marker 269.4. At the end of this original Trace walk,
is 13 Confederate graves.


This is mile marker 327.3. It is the site of Colbert Ferry
It is 500 yards across the Tennessee river to the other
side. It is reported that George Colbert who operated a
stand and the ferry charged Andrew Jackson $75,000
to ferry his army across the river.


Mile marker 363.0 Sweetwater branch. Lovely walk.
We were able to see beaver dams, fish, flowers, and of
course the Sweetwater spring.

Along these mile markers are Indian mounds. Those
pictures are in the travel photo albums.

Plants along the Trace

Berries like these are abundant. Gary said they tasted
really good.




Mushrooms or toadstools?

Birdsong Hollow

This is the double-arched bridge that spans Birdsong Hollow.
It was built in 1994. It received the Presidental Award for
Design Excellence in 1995 for its innovative design that
rises 155 feet above the valley and eliminates the need
fro spandrel columns. We drove over and under the
bridge. It can be seen on mile marker 438 along the
Natchez Trace Parkway.

Natchez Trace, Mile markers381.8-444

Gary and I drove the Natchez Trace from Mile marker
381.8-444. We stopped at all the points of interest along
the way. As always, more photos on travel photo link.


Grave of Meriweather Lewis. He was staying in this area
when he died. Info on marker says he died a mysterious
death. Did he commit suicide, or was his death meant to
look as if he commited suicide?


Fall Hollow. Lots of falls to see.


Mile Marker 397.4. You can walk 2000' of the trace.


Gordon House and Ferry Site. Marker 407.7 Mr. Gordon
was a scout for General Jackson. This house was built in
1818. The Gordons ran a ferry from 1801 until traffic on the
Trace declined.